They stayed there for a minute or two, gulping, panting, and then, still saying nothing, slowly, they resumed their sideways progress until the last of them had dropped on to the clearing at the end of the sloping ledge under their feet, where they lay, chests heaving.

Albert had never imagined that the rocky ground under his back, that having clods of earth in his hair and dust all over his feet and head could feel so good. He breathed, again, and again and again—deep, grateful breaths. When his heart slowed down enough for the surroundings to fade into sight, he stood up, his legs still shaking a little. His arm burned like it was on fire, but he could move it, provided he didn’t mind a little bit of unbearable pain.

As he stood there, Kieran walked up to him and stuck his big hand out at him. Silently, Albert shook it. The big man hesitated in front of him for a moment, then nodded and made his way to the side. Albert looked up and saw Colby walking towards him, hand outstretched, the other Outlier behind him. Solemnly, he shook their hands one by one, as they each nodded in turn before walking off. Nobody said anything, but somehow Albert knew he would have nothing to worry about from Colby’s gang any more.

Theo came up to him, her face glowing, eyes shining. ‘Mac! That was jus’—wonderful!’

June smiled at him, her eyes reflecting the last shadow of a worry that hadn’t yet died completely. ‘You were very brave.’

‘You were very foolish,’ said a quiet voice, and Albert turned and saw Marcus, sitting among the rocks to his left. He looked at Albert and continued. ‘You might have brought the whole ledge down.’

Albert opened his mouth to retort hotly, but Marcus held up his hand. ‘No matter. It has ended well. Let us keep moving. It is not far now.’ Lightly, he sprang to his feet and walked past them, his path taking him right next to Albert, where he stopped.

‘But next time, just let him go.’ He walked on, towards the rocks across the clearing, where he stood, looking at them meaningfully.

Albert looked at June. ‘You think he bleeds ice?’

‘Let’s go,’ said June, her voice tight.

They walked across towards him, Colby’s group making their way across to meet them there. When they were all there, he turned, and walked forward.

Silently, they followed him through a rocky path, spiralling downwards. Albert realized that it curved down the sheer rock face beside them, that they were walking along the wall itself. He looked up and around and saw more paths like the one they were on—many, many paths, twisting, intersecting, tracing innumerable thin lines in the vast expanse of rock, above, below, all around them. It was the great-grandaddy of road networks.